- Cocaine Debt

NAMES AND FACES

August 13, 1989

LARRY GATLIN says he and his country-music-singing brothers have erased a $1.6 million debt caused by cocaine and bad investments. ''Zero's a beautiful number, you know, when you were a minus $1.6 million,'' he said Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. Gatlin said he and his brothers Steve and Rudy wiped out the debt over the past five years. The oil crisis contributed to the crisis, he said. ''When oil went down to $12.80 a barrel, it ripped some knickers, including ours. I spent money on cocaine. I spent money on gambling. I spent money on bad investments.'' Since seeking professional help in 1985 for his cocaine use, Gatlin has worked for anti-drug causes. The trio is known for such hit records as ''All the Gold in California,'' and ''Broken Lady.''